As Italian politicians debate the usefulness of wiretapping, organized crime groups are already employing hackers to create new communication systems beyond the reach of authorities. According to Nicola Gratteri, prosecutor of the Republic of Catanzaro, the Italian mafia is able to buy hackers and use them to create communication systems that are impossible for law enforcement to penetrate. They even use disposable phones for six months at a time to speak openly across oceans, leaving authorities powerless to intervene.
Speaking at the presentation of the “Mafia in the Digital Age” report by the Magna Grecia Foundation in the press room of the Italian Parliament, Gratteri expressed concern over Italy’s lack of investment in technology in recent decades. While Italy was once a leader in investigative techniques, the country is now falling behind due to a lack of investment. Gratteri believes that Italy must close this gap by hiring hackers and investing in technology to be competitive with the best police forces in the world.
“This is a pressing issue that must be addressed now,” said Gratteri. “This study is current and timely, but it would have been outdated if it had been released five years from now. We must stop relying solely on police officers and enlist the help of hackers. Otherwise, we will not be able to compete with the best police forces in the world.”
Gratteri added that Israel currently has the most skilled hackers, due to its more relaxed legislation that allows for experimentation with technology. He called for more investment in Italian law enforcement, pointing out that Italy has advanced technology in the aerospace and military sectors, which could be used to improve national security.
“We cannot continue to think that we are all being wiretapped in Italy,” Gratteri emphasized. “We need to be proactive and stay ahead of the game. We cannot wait for a call from a French or German colleague to give us a tip after the fact. The security of our state is too important to leave to chance.”
In conclusion, Gratteri called on the Italian government to invest in the technological advancement of the country’s law enforcement in the short term. Failure to do so could result in Italy falling further behind in the fight against organized crime.
LEGGI ANCHE: Daily Calabria: News and Stories from the Heart of Southern Italy
